Poldark’s Robin Ellis: 'I fell in love with my wife at first sight'

ACTOR Robin Ellis rose to fame when he played Captain Ross Poldark in the hit 1970s BBC costume drama Poldark

Actor Robin Ellis enjoyed a long career. Now he lives in France and writes cookery books [UK]

Robin enjoyed a long career in theatre and film, marked by appearances in plays such as King Lear. Now 72, he lives with his American wife in France, and writes cookery books. He says:

“I was born in Ipswich in 1942, and we moved around to various places such as Edinburgh and Leamington Spa because my dad was in the RAF. We set up in Hampstead Garden Suburb in 1946 and I went to Highgate School. I was involved in the school’s dramatic society and after playing Sir Lucius O’Trigger in Sheridan’s The Rivals,

I decided to become an actor. I spent a couple of years with the National Youth Theatre, and at 18 went to study history at Cambridge University, where I was in 21 plays. My parents advised me to get a degree so I had something to fall back on.

“My father then put me in touch with a quintessential Hollywood agent, Al Parker, who’d moved to London. I auditioned for him and he offered me a seven-year contract. I went into rep, playing Idle Jack in Dick Whittington, when an audition came up at the Haymarket Theatre for The Rivals, again. I got the lead and was paid £35 a week, aged 24.

I also appeared in The Real Inspector Hound with Ronnie Barker and Richard Briers.

The 72-year old actor played Captain Ross Poldark in the hit BBC costume drama, Poldark [BBC]

In France I’ve indulged my love of cooking, and since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1999 I’ve written two cookbooks

Robin Ellis

“My first TV role was for LWT’s The Inside Man, after which I auditioned for Poldark in 1975. I liked the scripts, the story and my fellow actors, and it slowly dawned on me how popular the series was.

"I remember going to the Aldwych Theatre and having to hide in the upper circle from a group of Irish schoolgirls who were pursuing me – to the nuns’ great disapproval!

“I joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing alongside Judi Dench and Donald Sinden, before the second series of Poldark in 1977.

The BBC is remaking Poldark now; I think it’s a lovely idea. I continued to act, alongside the likes of Helen Mirren, before getting into voice-over work.

“I met my wife, Meredith, when she interviewed me in New York in 1986 as part of a trip to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Masterpiece Theatre. I looked into Meredith’s eyes and there you go. It was love at first sight.

"She came to live with me in London, and we married in 1990. That same year we went to see a friend who’d retired in south-west France and I impulsively bought a house, just outside Lautrec, within five hours of seeing it.

“In France I’ve indulged my love of cooking, and since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1999 I’ve written two cookbooks. Meredith is a wonderful photographer and takes the photos that are on my blog about food and our lives in France.

"I spend all my time writing, cooking and eating in a healthy, Mediterranean way; it’s one of the great joys of life.”

Healthy Eating For Life by Robin Ellis (£6.99, Constable and Robinson) is out now. To order it send a cheque/PO payable to The Express, to Express Orders Dept, 1 Broadland Business Park, Norwich NR7 0WF, call 0871 471 3466 or rder it online at expressbooks.co.uk.